She said nothing, but nuzzled him quietly and passionately, kissing him with the barest touch of her tongue. A purr escaped her.
Kubali swallowed heavily, his heart beginning to hammer in his chest. “Oh girl, I’ve wanted you for the longest time.”
“Shhh.” She covered his muzzle softly with her paw, silencing him. Craning forward, she nuzzled him firmly, her warm tongue flicking out and tracing down his cheek in a kiss. “Kubali, do you really love me? Are you sure you do?”
He nuzzled her passionately, his wet mane filling her with his fragrance. “I was never so sure of anything in my life.”
She purred, rolling over into a crouch and moving her tail aside. “Come then. Make love to me. I’m yours.”
His heart pounding, Kubali rose to his feet. He kissed her once again, then trembling with anticipation gently took hold of her shapely neck in his jaws, stepping across her supple golden body.
The rain came down furiously. The lovers’ muted cries were muffled somewhat by the pouring rain, but Gamu listened intently and missed nothing. He cringed with every soft moan and cursed his luck, both the rain and the passion lost to another. Staring at the dark opening with narrowed eyes, he bared his teeth and trembled. "Damn you, Kubali! Damn you to hell!"
He listened until he could bear no more, then stalked away stiff-legged with rage, the rain filling the depressions he left in the soft earth.
CHAPTER: AFTER
Elanna laid on her back, forepaws tucked neatly on her chest as she lay nestled against Kubali, basking in the delightful warmth of his body and listening to the soft patter of water dripping outside. The cool evening breeze tugged gently at her fur and she shifted slightly, the mane of her beloved falling gently about her face and shoulders. She inhaled his scent and smiled, a small secret smile that intrigued him.
“What is it?”
Her eyes lidded, she looked at him and purred softly. “Oh nothing.” She lifted a forepaw which could snuff the life from an impala with one blow and gently caressed his face. “For the first time in a long while I feel safe.”
He answered her throaty purr with a low rumble of his own. “You are safe, Elanna. Now and forever.”
“Not Elanna. Lannie. Remember?” She smiled up at him and kissed him.
His eyes sparkled. “Lannie, then...do you know how beautiful you are to me right now?”
Her tail lashed in embarrassment and she looked away shyly. “I’m not beautiful.”
“You’re right.”
Her eyes turned to glare at him. “What??”
“You aren’t merely beautiful.” He drew a paw along the side of her muzzle, tracing the soft line where her fur lightened. “Sunsets and flowers are beautiful, but they don’t inspire love. There must be another word for this.”
A nervous laugh escaped her. “The word is lucky. Do you really think I’m attractive?”
“No.”
She glared at him again. “Will you make sense?”
“I don’t have to think so. I KNOW so.” He nuzzled her again, more intensely this time. “I wish I were a flea so I could spend my life on top of you.”
“Oh, don’t say such things!” She giggled, enjoying his attentions. She lay her head back, purring louder as his rough tongue bathed her throat, immersing herself in the waves of pleasure he was inciting in her.
“I wonder what our children will be like?”
Elanna tensed. Her eyes opened in alarm and she twisted to look at him, but his expression was far away and dreamy.
“Uh...it’s a little early to think about--”
He grinned at her, the sight so overwhelmingly beautiful it stole her breath away. “Just think of it Lannie! Our children...” He glanced down absently at his crossed forepaws, as if contemplating a squirming cub there.
“But I thought that would be an awful burden on you. You have no lands of your own, and you’d have to support your children.”
“I don’t mind! They would be OUR children. They’ll be safe and well fed, I promise you! I’ll take such good care of them and love them, my darling.” He looked at her again and beamed. “And they’ll all be as beautiful as you.”
Lannie wore a look of pain. Abruptly, his expression melted away like water steaming under the hot son. “Lannie? What is it?”
Tears were coursing down her cheeks as she stared unseeing out the darkened entrance to their cave. “I can’t talk right now!”
“Elanna?” His voice took on a frightened tone. “Elanna, what’s wrong?” He raised a paw to touch her and flinched in surprise as she jerked away, her eyes burning.
“DON’T TOUCH ME!” she shrieked.
“I’m sorry! What did I do? What did I say??”
“Leave me alone! Please, just go away!” Elanna lurched into motion, leaping up with such violence that her hindpaw struck Kubali in the face, dazing him momentarily. He shook his head, fighting to clear it, only to see the empty savanna stretching before him in the night.
“Lannie?” He rose and paced out worriedly. “Lannie! Please come back!” He swallowed heavily, fear gripping his heart and making him giddy. “Oh gods...LANNIE!!”
The subject of his concern was just over a rise, her own sobs too loud in her ears to hear him. “M-My love, I’m sorry...oh gods, Taka, I miss you so much!” She choked back a cry and looked down at her forepaws. “I wish you were here.”
A soft touch brushed her shoulder and she growled unsteadily. “Damn it, Kubali, I said leave me alone!”
“You summon me and dismiss me in one motion?” A warm voice chuckled behind her, making her eyes widen. “Come, Lannie, make up your mind.”
She whipped around to behold a dark maned lion surrounded by a soft glow of starlight. “Taka??”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“Dear Aiheu, how I’ve missed you! I’ve been so alone!” She swept forward and collapsed against him, feeling his soft fur and breathing in his dear, familiar scent, now touched with wild honey.
Taka lifted a paw and stroked her cheek. “I know, love. But I have sent you help and you have refused it. Lannie, go back to him!”
“What??” Elanna stared at him. “How can you say that? Taka, I want to be with YOU.”
“No you don’t, love. The tides of life still beat strong inside you. My time is past, but you still have a path to walk here.” He lifted a paw and brushed away a tear from her face. “He needs you, Lannie...and you need him, not some old memory of love.”
She shook her head, silent tears still rolling down her cheeks. “He doesn’t need me. Not like you did.”
“No, our needs are different, but that does not make his need any less, love. There is a thorn in your heart, and only he can remove it.” Taka purred deeply and kissed her muzzle. “When I see you happy with him, it fills me with joy. Go to him Lannie. Go to him and LIVE. If you don’t, I cannot be happy.”
Elanna nodded and nuzzled him one last time before turning away and padding slowly back towards the kopje in the distance. A final warmth passed through her and then the savanna fell dark and silent again around her. Lifting her face to the heavens, she beheld the glitter of the stars, and sought out one in particular. “Thank you, my love.”
The star seemed to shine brighter for a moment, as if in answer.
“Lannie!”
She jerked her head down to see Kubali bound over the rise, puffing for breath. “Lannie! Thank God I found you! I heard someone talking over this way and recognized your voice...” He trotted over to her and drew up short of nuzzling her in greeting, suddenly uncomfortable.
“Lannie? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you...can we talk about this?” He looked at her miserably. “Please?”